NnBU World First Invention to Help Improve the Outcomes of C-Section Births

There is evidence to suggest that children born by C-section have a higher incidence of medical issues than those who are born naturally.

The team behind specialist medical company NnBU have created the world’s first neonatal birth unit that is able to simulate the positive stresses of natural birth for babies born via elective Caesarian (otherwise known as C-section).

The idea behind this device was born when its co-inventors, Claus Peters and Johannes Schenck, were attending antenatal classes with their wives. During these classes, the two new fathers began discussing ways in which to help other parents prevent some of the medical issues that have been linked to C-section births.

There is evidence to suggest that children born by C-section have a higher incidence of medical issues than those who are born naturally. Recent research has shown that babies delivered by C-section have a 59% higher risk of obesity under the age of 5, and a 21% increased risk of asthma under the age of 12*. These findings were discovered by the University of Edinburgh as a result of a review of 80 studies and trials that collectively looked at 29 million births. Other research studies have also found links between C-sections and allergies**, type 1-diabetes and celiac disease***.

C-sections are a risk factor for these medical issues because the positive stresses of a natural birth are necessary to stimulate a baby’s immune system in order to fully prepare them for life. During birth, a baby’s body goes through a number of immense changes, including:

• Circulatory initiation by the opening of pulmonary circulation
• Pulmonary adoption through the exchange of gases via the placenta
• Adoption of temperature regulation
• Adoption of metabolic regulation by the still immature organs (liver, kidneys, stomach, intestines, central nerve system, lungs and skin)
• Bacterial colonisation and exposure to microorganisms from the environment
• Change from parenteral to enteral nutrition

With C-sections, there is a risk that this adaptation process is either not completely initiated or only partly triggered, which can cause various problems that are respiratory-related or hormonal-based. It is also possible that intestinal stimulation is distorted, which could lead to diarrhoea diseases and increases the risk of obesity.

Utilising the engineering knowledge of Claus and Johannes, Frédéric Vo Van, a specialist in the global strategic development of companies, formed NnBU with the express purpose of creating a device for use in hospitals and clinics that could replicate the positive stresses of a natural birth in order to help trigger the baby’s immune system.

The device consists of a neonatal birth unit that gently massages the baby’s torso immediately after birth and positive AGPAR score in sequences that simulate the pressure exerted on the baby during labour, i.e. the initial birth contractions, the expulsive contractions and the exit through the birth canal. Pressure is applied to the baby according to the natural inter-uterine pressure curves, ranging between 10 to >200mmHg.

Following this, the baby is helped to become more alert naturally and comfortably through the use of light in order to help them begin to adapt to life outside of the womb. The light beam is directed at the baby’s fontanel and has a radiation between 6.000 to 12.000lm, values that could not possibly cause any harm. During the procedure, the baby’s vital signs and oxygen saturation are constantly monitored, and the process is regulated through the use of pulse oximetry.

Additionally, NnBU have created a system to ensure that only suitably qualified medical staffers who have been trained in the use of the device will be physically able to operate it. Using blockchain technology, they have created a smart contract locking system that will be built into the device itself. This locking system will not only ensure that only trained professionals will be able to use it, but also that only qualified personnel will be able to conduct maintenance work on the device. Distributed ledger technology such as this carries a lower security risk than a traditional access control mechanism, which could be subject to tampering and could even be circumvented by copying a key (be it physical or digital).

Petra Sacher, gynaecologist and medical advisor to NnBU said, “It’s surprising that someone hasn’t invented this type of unit before now. A device like this may help, as we know that babies born via C-section have a higher incidence of a whole range of immunological issues.”

While C-sections used to be associated with solely emergency situations, many women now elect to have this surgery either due to the advice of their doctors or request a caesarean. In recent years, this practice has rapidly increased – in fact, across a number of Western countries the rate of C-section births has risen on average from 19.8% in 2000 to 27.9% in 2015****. In 2016 the approximate number of Caesarean-section births by country were as follows; Germany 225,000, France 167,000, Italy 170,000, Spain 102,000, United Kingdom 205,000, Brazil (Major Cities) 346,000 and United States 1,300,000. The market for a device that could help reduce the risk of complications and care after C-sections is therefore huge.

Berlin-based Frédéric Vo Van, co-founder and CEO of NnBU, said, “As someone who was born via C-section myself, I was drawn to this idea through some of my own experiences. When I moved to Germany in my thirties I developed allergies and a sensitivity to cold weather and upon researching this I found out this is common for children born via C-section.”

The device will be brought to the market through fundraising in the form of a crowdfunding token sale, starting March 19 2018. Upon completion of this funding, the device will be developed at one of Germany’s most highly regarded research institutions, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing, Engineering and Automation alongside medical device developers DMTpe.

Headquartered in Cyprus, NnBU HOLDINGS LIMITED is an innovation company which has developed a specialized medical device. Specifically, NnBU focuses on the care of babies who are delivered through C-section.

The neonatal birth unit is currently in its development stage and is supported by medical professionals globally. The company has received a patent covering this design and the process parameters which is now registered under the German Patent and Trademark Office. The fact that the patent has been granted indicates that there is no similar device in the market.

NnBU is the registered trademark of NnBU Holdings Limited.

About the ICO

The Company will mint 60 million tokens. Of these, 7.5 million tokens (equivalent to 12.5% of the total) will be immediately locked up in a Token Reserve. The 15 million tokens offered in the pre-sale will be on sale on Monday, March 19, 2018, and will remain on sale until Sunday, March 25 or until all those tokens have been allocated, if earlier. The ICO sale event, covering 37.5 million tokens, will start on Monday, March 26, 2018, being the day following the end of the pre-sale event period, and close on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 or when all the tokens are allocated, if earlier. Tokens will be allocated in both the pre-sale and sale events on a “first come, first served” basis.

Full instructions as to how to go through all the relevant processes, which will include full Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Client (KYC) procedures, are to be found on the NnBU Website.

The minimum contribution amount per investment transaction is set to 1 Ethereum (ETH) and this limit will be hardcoded into the smart contract code. This means that the smart contract system will reject investments below this threshold.

About Frédéric Vo Van

NnBU co-founder and CEO, Frédéric Vo Van is an experienced executive with a track record of successful growth strategies in global organisations and across diverse global territories. Previously, Frédéric worked as a business development and international affairs director at Lufthansa, a Deutscher Index (DAX - German Stock Index) listed company.

Based in Berlin, Germany, he is a specialist in new business and the global strategic development of companies. His work has taken him around the globe and has included many highly successful international initiatives.

Frédéric became involved with NnBU following his interest in the invention. When he moved to Germany, aged 31, he developed allergies he had not previously experienced and he also became more sensitive to cold weather. While researching, he found that those, like him, born through C-section, were also likely to develop allergies and similar problems in later life.

About Petra Sacher

Petra is a gynaecologist with many years of experience in delivering babies. She worked until 2016 as a doctor in the St. Adolph Stift hospital in Reinbek on the maternity unit. Whilst there she assisted in the birth of approximately 2500 babies. In 2017 she founded her own doctor’s office in Reinbek. She provides a wealth of experience and insight into C-sections

Headquartered in Cyprus, NnBU Holdings Limited is an innovation company which has developed a specialized medical device. Specifically, NnBU focuses on the care of babies who are delivered through C-section.
The neonatal birth unit is ...